2018 has come bearing gifts and Itanagar making it to the list of smart cities has set the tempo for things to come.

Itanagar’s run –up to the ‘smart city’ tag has been no less of a herculean task. In keeping its dream of gaining the Smart City tag, all out effort was and is being made to tick the checklist in terms of infrastructure and beautification. General cleanliness which was earlier ignored by both citizens and the administration has been greatly prioritized.

In 2016, when Itanagar was tagged the third dirtiest city in the country the embarrassment was palpable among the people. Thanks to concerted effort, the state capital managed to make a turnaround during the Swachh Survekshan survey 2017 and climbed to spot 216 thus avenging the humiliation. The district administration and the Itanagar Municipal Council deserve a pat on their back for rising up to the occasion.

The Smart City Mission – launched on June 25, 2015 - is one of the ambitious and innovative programs of the NDA Government, which aims to make the selected cities, zones of prosperity in a particular region which will help in minimising ill-effects of rapid urbanisation.

India is moving to its cities and there is immense pressure on urban centres and most are unable to sustain the massive influx of people. It is clear that, because of the absence of proper planning and investment, most of our cities are visibly straining to cope with the rapidity and scale of change. Successive governments have chosen to neglect the city and focus on the rural instead. As a result, cities are struggling with huge infrastructure deficits: congestion, lack of affordable housing, poor sewage facilities, inadequate water supply.

The Smart Cities Mission and Amrut may constitute a step towards filling that policy vacuum. Both are aimed at improving the quality of urban life and building sustainable cities. They emphasise the devolution of funds and functions to urban local bodies and call for wider stakeholder consultations that would involve citizen participation. More local autonomy is a must if cities are to fix themselves and invest wisely in creating the infrastructure they need.

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313